A NATIONAL park authority, warned by the district auditor for its planning procedures last year, has agreed a raft of new policies to stave off further criticism.

Members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority's planning committee insisted they were always motivated by the best intentions.

Nevertheless, a report by the district auditor, published last April, suggested some of their decisions were made with "insufficient justification".

It also claimed site visits became free-for-alls, leaving the authority vulnerable to lobbying - while the district auditor also highlighted evidence of in-fighting between factions on the planning committee.

Not all agreed with the findings - but a working party was still formed to come up with a new code of conduct.

The planning committee subsequently voted to accept the policies at a meeting at Bolton Abbey on Tuesday.

In future, the national park authority will only conduct site visits if the majority of the planning committee votes for one. Members of the planning committee will not be allowed to express an opinion on any planning application before hearing all the facts at committee meetings nor give detailed advice. Specific inquiries should be referred to planning officers instead.